Understanding the Urban World

Professor John Rennie Short with students in Nanchang, China

We live in an increasingly urban world. Urban issues are focus of public policy discussions across the U.S. and throughout the world.

Students in the Urban Policy track study cities and urban issues from economic, environmental, political and social perspectives. Students learn to formulate questions about pressing urban issues, and identify possible solutions.

John Rennie Short is the track advisor. An expert on urban issues, environmental concerns, globalization, political geography, and the history of cartography, Dr. Short has traveled extensively, studying cities and lecturing throughout the world. He is the author of over 37 books, invited chapters in edited books, numerous journal articles, and essays in Newsweek, Salon, Slate, US News and World Report and the Washington Post. His latest books include A Research Agenda for Cities and Human Geography, an engaging look at how human activity influences the earth’s geography.